-Story by Hans Tammemagi

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Hamish Crawford 香蕉视频直播� lean, fit and exuding energy 香蕉视频直播� is waiting at the entrance to the bustling . He香蕉视频直播檚 dressed in jeans and working farm clothes, and his face is framed by a white moustache and large sideburns. But what really stands out is an irrepressible smile and a twinkle in his eye. He is clearly a man who enjoys life and, as I am to learn, he香蕉视频直播檚 also a remarkable person.

Early Years

As we start a tour of his 10-acre farm, he explains how in 1965 he emigrated to Canada from Scotland at age 21. He worked for the National Grain Company, first in Winnipeg and then in Calgary.

One year, when he and his family holidayed in and the , he became smitten by its rural softness, which reminded him of the fishing village in which he香蕉视频直播檇 grown up. In 1989, he purchased 香蕉视频直播� sight unseen from a newspaper ad 香蕉视频直播� a 10-acre farm south of the airport.

With a love and knowledge of farming 香蕉视频直播� he has a diploma in agriculture 香蕉视频直播� Hamish decided to grow wheat, an unusual crop on Vancouver Island. His goal was to start a bakery. The venture proved successful: the wheat grew, a bakery followed and it flourished.

The bakery grew into today香蕉视频直播檚 Roost Vineyard Bistro and Farm Bakery, which is immensely popular, serving a wide variety of fresh-baked goods such as breads, muffins, pies and croissants as well as meals. Hamish believes it香蕉视频直播檚 the only bakery in British Columbia that grows and mills its own wheat.

Cars!

Asked about his hobbies, Hamish says, 香蕉视频直播淐ars! Come, I香蕉视频直播檒l show you.香蕉视频直播�

We enter a large, barn-like building and 香蕉视频直播� surprise! 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 like an automobile museum with 16 shining vintage cars, including a striking black and white 1949 MG touring car with a supercharger, and a 1928 Model A Ford Huckster complete with rumble seat.

香蕉视频直播淚 love mechanics and have been working on cars since I was 12. I always have one on the go,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚t takes me about a year to refurbish a car. At the moment I香蕉视频直播檓 working on a 1926 Austin 7 Chummy.香蕉视频直播�

We climb to an extended balcony and look down on the rows of gleaming cars. The balcony has a bar bearing several bottles and a sign, 香蕉视频直播淗amish香蕉视频直播檚 Happy Spot.香蕉视频直播� Even here, however, Hamish doesn香蕉视频直播檛 rest, for strewn about the floor are parts of an airplane he is assembling to hang from the ceiling above his cars.

Wine and Dungeon

香蕉视频直播淎fter visiting California I decided we should grow grapes and make wine,香蕉视频直播� says Hamish.

He planted two acres of Siegerrebe grapes and now makes white wine, ginger wine and blackberry wine. The winemaker, of course, is Hamish himself.

He leads me into a long, narrow tasting room in the basement of the barn. A full suit of medieval armour stands near the entrance.

香蕉视频直播淭hat was a birthday gift after I broke my hip. My friends felt I should be fully immobilized,香蕉视频直播� jokes Hamish.

He leads me past an elegant table with two candelabras into a dusky back room with foreboding concrete walls.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the dungeon,香蕉视频直播� he says, pointing to a skeleton and ominous, full-size rack 香蕉视频直播渃omfort香蕉视频直播� chair and iron maiden, which look in perfect working condition.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 still developing the dungeon and tasting room,香蕉视频直播� he explains.

During a trip to Napa Valley, he visited a winery with an Italian castle where the owner said the dungeon was the most popular part of the property.

Daughter Sarah

Hamish香蕉视频直播檚 daughter, Sarah Bohl, joins us as we stroll to another building 香蕉视频直播� Hamish香蕉视频直播檚 workshop.

The interior is crammed with two cars partly disassembled, airplane wings and parts, wine containers, tools scattered everywhere and hundreds of jars, bottles and cans.

香蕉视频直播淭his is where Dad spends most of his time,香蕉视频直播� says Sarah.

When I ask Sarah how it is to work so closely with her father, she gives him a hug and responds. 香蕉视频直播淚 love my Dad, he香蕉视频直播檚 my idol. Everybody looks up to him. He香蕉视频直播檚 terrific to work with and he香蕉视频直播檚 very patient.香蕉视频直播�

She describes how when she was young, living in Calgary, her dad built her a recumbent bike. He also built several other bicycles, so their home became a popular spot for youngsters. Several of the bikes now hang in the rafters.

The three of us walk past a field of grazing sheep to Hamish香蕉视频直播檚 home, an attractive two-storey Early American Farmhouse built in 1990. Sam, a black lab, greets us and accompanies us through the comfortable home, which is full of nautical and antique car memorabilia.

A Rubber-Chicken Cannon?

Back at the Roost, Hamish points to a large, horizontal propane tank with a pipe protruding upward from one end.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a rubber-chicken cannon I made,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淲hen school groups come, the kids love it. The chicken flies more than 100 yards.香蕉视频直播�

Asked about his next project, a twinkle comes into his eye. 香蕉视频直播淎 distillery. I think I香蕉视频直播檒l start a distillery.香蕉视频直播�

We meet Dallas Bohl, Hamish香蕉视频直播檚 son-in-law.

香蕉视频直播淪ince 2008, Sarah and I have run the bakery and winery business,香蕉视频直播� says Dallas, 香蕉视频直播渁nd Hamish supplies the ideas and the energy.香蕉视频直播�

Hamish counters, 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just the hired farmhand.香蕉视频直播�

Not true. Hamish is one of those gifted people, who not only brims with ideas, but also has the drive and talent to put them into action. And he wears a smile the whole time.